7 Differences: Plastic Surgeon vs Cosmetic Surgeon

You want the best result, and the best surgeon. How can you tell? Truthfully, the surgeon with the highest standards for his or her own performance reliably holds the highest standards across the board. The best surgeon will have the highest level of training and certification, and will offer you the best care, and likely the best result.

So how can you know? Plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon? The differences may surprise you. Because of common misconceptions surrounding cosmetic plastic surgery, you should understand what’s behind the scrubs and the white coat.

Operations that improve the human body are called Plastic Surgery after the Latin plasticus: that may be molded. The two types of plastic surgery are reconstructive surgery, after injuries, and aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery, to improve appearance. Cosmetic surgery is only a part of plastic surgery, but to perform it well, the physician must be fully trained in the entire specialty.

1. All plastic surgeons are cosmetic surgeons but not all cosmetic surgeons are plastic surgeons.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeons have more training and ARE qualified to perform both reconstructive and aesthetic/cosmetic surgery.

A Cosmetic Surgeon is NOT certified to perform plastic/reconstructive surgery.

4. Is my surgeon trained to perform my surgery?

After graduating medical school, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon must be selected among many applicants for residency training in Plastic Surgery. If chosen, the physician learns how to be a surgeon for three to five years, then trains for at least three more years in plastic surgery. Training involves closely supervised continuous evaluation and management of many complex clinical situations, and matures the surgeon personally and professionally. Successful completion of the post-graduate residency years qualifies the surgeon for written and oral examinations administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Surgeons must submit an entire year of his or her surgical accomplishments for the exam. Surgeons are not eligible for the exam until they have been practicing plastic surgery independently for two years or longer.

There are no such requirements for Cosmetic Surgeons. Cosmetic surgeons are doctors who merely decide to perform cosmetic surgery in their practice. They may be certified in any medical specialty such as a gynecology, dermatology, family physician, ear,-nose-throat, etc. Their training may consist of several short weekend courses to a one-year cosmetic surgery fellowship.

Because they know the difference! Board Certified Plastic Surgeons CAN perform both reconstructive and aesthetic/cosmetic surgery in hospital or outpatient surgery centers.

Cosmetic Surgeons are NOT privileged for cosmetic surgery at these facilities and are not allowed to perform reconstructive plastic surgery. For this reason, cosmetic surgeons usually perform surgery in office based operating rooms which are subject to more relaxed accreditation standards.

Facelift vs. Facelift

“Doctor, how long will my surgery take ?”

Before surgery, most ask how long the procedure will last? Behind the question lie mixed emotions. Although the anesthesiologist and I are trusted, you relinquish all control over your face, your body, and your life during a procedure under general anesthesia. Your trust in us is total and complete.

So how safe is general anesthesia? Is a short procedure safer? Given the choice between a shorter face lift or “mini” lift and a longer face lift, should you be afraid of a longer surgery? The answer is, NO, you should NOT be afraid of a longer face lift, YOU SHOULD WANT IT. General anesthesia is VERY SAFE, and longer procedures offer the best, safest, and longest lasting result, generating true value for many years afterward. Consider an analogy: If you hire painters for the exterior of your house and the job lasts six hours vs. twelve or twenty four hours, assuming the same number of workers, the results would be significantly different. Looking in all of the corners, the window panes, around the foundation and gutters, the shorter job will have skipped and missed areas. The coat will not be as thick or durable. Quality always takes time and effort, and higher quality takes more time and effort.

Similarly, not all face lifts are created equal. Our ability to correct aging features has advanced dramatically in recent years. Contemporary face lift offers more natural and beautiful results than ever before. Details of anatomy and technique that improve your result demand from your surgeon extra knowledge, more time to execute successfully, and greater attention to detail. Face lift procedure time is longer, but your result is improved and your procedure is safer. Better outcomes require longer procedures. Advances in anesthesia have allowed this progress without increasing risk or compromising your safety.

If your surgeon plans a “quick lift,” a “lunchtime lift,” a “mini-lift,” or other abbreviated version, you will likely see improvement, but how much will this be and how long will it last compared to the longer version? The answer to this question varies, but in general, you are losing value with the “abridged” or “condensed” version. Often marketed as “new and improved,” quick lift is actually the 1960’s model: cut & pull. Minimal surgery means minimal results. Longer lasting, modern face lift incorporates many advances. Today’s face lift is not just an operation, it is a masterful work of art individualized to reverse aging features by re-positioning sagging tissues into their youthful location and by securing them for a long lasting correction. During the operation, localization of important structures like nerves, vessels, and ligaments adds time, but improves safety of your procedure by preventing complications.

Quick surgery shows in the quality and durability of the result. Quick surgery glosses over details. The surgeon who performs “quick” or “mini” surgery is focused on time and likely on business, NOT on YOU and YOUR RESULT. Quick surgery is never as thorough, careful, or comprehensive as state-of-the-art. If you’re only planning one face lift, for your own sake, DON’T make it a quick one!

NEW Plastic Surgery: LESS is MORE

Better understanding of aging anatomy is heralding a NEW era of smaller, safer, easy recovery plastic surgical procedures with long lasting changes that essentially prevent an aged appearance for your entire adult life. Even in your sixties, seventies, and eighties, with annual, bi-annual, or semi-annual maintenance and attention to smaller procedures, men and women can manifest youthful vibrance and allure. You’ll NEVER lie about your age, your appearance will do it for you.

Gravitational settling of facial soft tissue is managed by segmental (minor) lifts rather than a full face and neck lift. Cheek lift, temporal brow-lift, eyelid-lift, ear-lobe lift are all office procedures. Even minor face and neck lift operations can be performed safely and comfortably in the office while you’re awake and relaxed. Some skin sagging is corrected by removal and re-arrangement of descending tissue. Examples of this are jowl removal ,lip-lift, and “anguloplasty” (corner of lip lift) procedures. Skin wrinkling can be treated by laser or by filling with fat or off-the-shelf products. Hollows on the aging face create shadows that send a signal of darkness, depression, and sadness. Others interpret this as hostility and avoid you. The face should reflect light, and be bright. Small implants, fat grafting, minor surgical lifts, and off the shelf fillers re-shape surface contours to reflect light in a youthful way.

Choosing minor procedures doesn’t mean they can be performed well by a “minor” cosmetic surgeon. Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery means your plastic surgeon has met the highest standard for his or her own performance, which increases the chance that he or she will hold himself or herself to the highest standard for your care and your result.

Dr. Steve Laverson is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and has been in practice in North San Diego County since 1993. For consultation, call his Encinitas office at 858-295-4001 or visit feelbeautiful.com.

What’s YOUR Resolution ? A Beautiful YOU!

Many New Year resolutions involve commitments to self improvement and a better life. Every January sees gym memberships, sales of diet books, and health club rosters increase. But there are other substantial ways to kick off the New Year with a new you. Cosmetic procedures soar at this time of year, as many people get serious about making changes to feel better, fix limitations, and promote confidence. With both surgical and non-invasive possibilities, Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery delivers RESULTS. If you’re ready to flatten your stomach, enhance your features, tighten loose skin, or smooth some wrinkles, call us. We want to help.

Her Hands Tell The Story

At 57-years old, Christie Brinkley looks amazing with the help of some great plastic surgery. Brinkley has admitted to having plastic surgery in the form of a facelift and a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to get rid of the sagging eyes, and a mini necklift to get rid of the sagging jowls. In addition to the surgical procedures, it is likely that this former supermodel uses fillers to keep her cheeks looking firm and plump. While this gorgeous face has landed Christie Brinkley many roles on Broadway, it is her hands that tell the true story.

In order for Brinkley to conceal her true age it is suggested that she use laser treatments or even chemical peels to get rid of the age spots and wrinkles that are extremely visible on the backs of her hands. Her focus now should be to create a smoother appearance on her hands to go along with the soft appearance of her face.

The hands are easily forgotten when it comes to fighting the aging process but as evident by the photo of Christie Brinkley it is just as important to take care of our hands as it is the rest of our body. After all, the appearance of the hands is a true sign of age.

Lower Face Lift Surgery Carlsbad Del Mar Encinitas Ca

Girls, if you’re considering breast augmentation, visit us first. Feel Beautiful has one of the few PORTRAIT 3D surgical simulation platforms in the world. See exactly what you’ll look like with different sizes and styles of implant before you have the procedure. The best part? FREE. That’s right, FREE. Only at Feel Beautiful, right here in sunny Encinitas.

Procedure in 3D – Lower Facelift Surgery

Lower Facelift Surgery – San Diego, CA

An individual’s identity is often primarily determined by the face—its structure, overall appearance, and expressions. As such, age-related changes that can alter the appearance of the face may make an individual feel as if their identity has changed over time. Changes can occur in the upper, mid, and lower portions of the face; however, changes to the lower third of the face are often the most readily apparent. These changes may include the development of deep lines in the cheeks and around the mouth, loose, excess skin in the cheeks, jaw line, and neck, and banding around the neck. Most often performed on individuals ranging from forty five to fifty five years of age, a lower facelift can help to reduce the appearance of deep facial wrinkles, sagging jowls, and sagging and banding in the neck, restoring a firmer, more youthful appearance.

Mid Face Lift Surgery Carlsbad Del Mar Encinitas Ca

Girls, if you’re considering breast augmentation, visit us first. Feel Beautiful has one of the few PORTRAIT 3D surgical simulation platforms in the world. See exactly what you’ll look like with different sizes and styles of implant before you have the procedure. The best part? FREE. That’s right, FREE. Only at Feel Beautiful, right here in sunny Encinitas.

Procedure in 3D – Mid Facelift Surgery

Mid Facelift Surgery – San Diego, CA

An individual’s identity is often primarily determined by the face—its structure, overall appearance, and expressions. As such, age-related changes that can alter the appearance of the face may make an individual feel as if their identity has changed over time. Changes can occur in the upper, mid, and lower portions of the face; however, changes to the middle region of the face can often occur earlier than changes to the lower face. These changes may include loss of volume and sagging of the cheeks, as well as the development of deep wrinkles and hollow areas below the lower eyelids. Often appropriate for individuals who have not yet experienced sagging in the lower face, a mid facelift can help to reduce these signs of aging, restoring a firmer, more youthful appearance.